Clutch clasp construction



P 1953 J. H. ORCH OFF 2,653,367

CLUTCH CLASP CONSTRUCTION Filed June 19. 1951 INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates toclasp constructions, and has particular reference to clutch devices for releasably gripping a rearwardly projecting stud'of an ormanent, insignia button, and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of parts for obtaining a very strong grip, whereby the shank of the ornament or button cannot inadvertently become loose.

Another object of the invention is to increase the strength of the gripping parts, whereby the effective life of the clutch clasp is greatly increased.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clutch clasp having no projecting sharp edges, whereby fraying of cloth when worn is prevented and ease of operation is facilitated.

An additional object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of the clutch clasp by forming the clasp of two readily stamped out and assembled members, whereby the cost of manufacture and assembly is reduced.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the novel clutch clasp, as mounted on a button stud;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the clasp cover;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the clutch element; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cover blank; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the clutch element blank.

It has been found desirable to provide a stronger and more eifective clutch clasp for re leasably gripping the stud of an ornament, button, insignia or the like. To this end, I have devised a clutch clasp made of two stamped metal parts, one part being shaped to form a clutch element and the other part being shaped to provide a cover, the parts being ribbed to increase the strength and springiness of cold rolled metal and thus to greatly extend the point of metal fatigue and the effective life of the clasp. 1 have further devised a construction which has no sharp protruding parts, whereby the operation of the clasp is facilitated and danger of fraying cloth when worn is eliminated.

Referring to the drawings,- the novel clutch clasp Ill includes a clutch H and a cover l2. The clutch I I is mad-e in one piece, as hereinafter explained, and has a base plate or disk Hi from which two opposed spring arms l4, l5 extend. The arm !4 has an upwardly bent portion indicated at l6, and an inclined portion 11 which slants upwardly across the disk Hi, the upper end 88 being inwardly curved. The arm I5 is bifurcate, with an upwardly bent portion indicated at l9 and two spaced portions 22, 2| which slant upwardly on opposite sides of the arm M, their upper ends 22, 23 being inwardly curved.

The disk l3 has a central stud receiving aperture 24, and the arm M has an opening 25 which is vertically aligned with the aperture 24, its forward edges forming an acute notch 25 and its rear edge 21 being circular. The arm l5 has a central notch 28 which is also vertically aligned with the aperture 24, whereby a pin or stud 253 of a button or the like 39 is received through the aperture 24 and is engaged by the notches 26 and 28. The lower portions of the arms l4, I5 are reinforced at the bent portions l6, [9 by vertical ribs 3|, 32.

The cover 12 has a rounded upper portion 33 and two parallel sides 34, 35 which are reinforced by ribs 36, 31. The sides have lower tabs 38, 38, and the disk [3 has diametrically opposed slots 49, 4| into which the tabs 33, 38 seat, whereby the cover is readily seated over the clutch and is locked in place by bending the tabs. The cover is formed from a blank 42, see Fig. 5, and the clutch is formed from a blank 43, see Fig. 6.

When the parts are assembled, the pin or stud 29 readily passes through the disk aperture 24 and through the space between the notches 25 and 28, as the arms [4, l5 shift upwardly to facilitate the stud passage. Any withdrawing movement of the stud, however, is resisted by the notches 26 and 28, as such withdrawing movement pulls the arms I4, I 5 downwardly and reduces the distance between the notches. To withdraw the stud, the upper ends it, 22 and 23 are pressed inwardly, which lifts the arms I4, I 5 and increases the distance between the notches 26 and 28, thus releasing the grip of the notch sides on the stud and permitting withdrawal.

Although a specific constructional embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is obvious that changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of the parts may be readily made to meet different clutch clasp requirements, without departing from the spirit or the scope of 3 the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clutch clasp for sudded buttons, ornaments and the like, comprising a clutch formed from a sheet metal blank and having a flat centrally apertured disk, a resilient arm extending from one side of said disk and bent upwardly and then inclined upwardly across said disk, said arm having an opening with a notch vertically aligned with one side of the disk aperture, and a second resilient arm extending from the other side of the disk and bent upwardly and having two spaced arm portions on opposite sides of the first resilient arm and inclined upwardly across said disk, said second resilient arm having a notch vertically aligned with the other side of the disk aperture, the outer surfaces of the flat disk and the bent upwardly portions of the resilient arms having protruding ribs, said disk having diametrieally opposed slots, and a cover extending over the upper edges of the resilient arms and having sides and tabs at the lower ends of the sides, said tabs being locked in said disk slots.

2. A clutch clasp for studded buttons, ornaments and the like, comprising a clutch formed from a sheet metal blank and having a fiat centrally apertured disk, a resilient arm extending from one side of said disk and bent upwardly and then inclined upwardly across said disk, said arm having an opening with a notch vertically aligned with one side of the disk aperture, and a second resilient arm extending from the other side of the disk and bent upwardly and having two spaced arm portions on opposite sides of the first resilient arm and inclined upwardly across said disk, said second resilient arm having a notch vertcially aligned with the other side of the disk aperture, the outer surfaces of the flat disk and the bent upwardly portions of the resilient arms having protruding ribs, said disk having dia metrically opposed slots, and a cover extending over the upper edges of the resilient arms and having sides and tabs at the lower ends of the sides, said tabs being locked in said disk slots, the upper edges of the resilient arms being inwardly curved.

JACOB H. ORCHOFF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,308,424 Morehouse Jan. 12, 1943 2,367,283 Judd Jan. 16, 1945 2,551,196 Ballou May 1, 1951 

